Biotech just got real! For those who don’t see the significance in what they learn in school Mrs. Caraballo’s advanced biotech is learning about the very relevant Ebola virus. There is currently an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and historically the 2014 outbreak is the largest of its kind. The students in the class are using the schools 3D printer to print models of a piece of one of the proteins found in the virus.

“I think it is really cool to be able to understand the virus at the molecular level and how that protein works. It makes the Ebola virus way more interesting to me,” senior Heather Pankratz said “it is also really cool that we have the technology to be able to 3D print it too, so we can see it.” Students are using what they are learning in class to build 3D models with certain aspects of the protein they are studying highlighted.

“I guess my favorite part is that you can learn about things you haven’t before and you can be more informed then the rest of the crowd. While everyone is freaking out you can be like relax it’s really hard to catch. It gives you an edge on what you can explain to people about the virus” senior Oscar Mendez said. The biotech class learns about varying aspects of diseases throughout the year and the Ebola unit is unique to this year.

This class has influenced what Pankratz wants to study. “I am interested in epidemiology or something to do with vaccine research. I always thought I wanted to be a doctor but this class changed my mind” Pankratz said.